Kiteboards, skis and more with a natural look: Sports equipment with veneered surfaces makes a unique eyecatcher

Bad Honnef. Off-the-shelf skis or kiteboards are certainly suitable for either pistes or the water, but are often as identical as eggs. But just as Easter eggs can be painted individually, veneer surfaces make skis or kiteboards truly unique. “The sheer beauty of veneered sports equipment makes a lasting impression and is always a unique eyecatcher,” explains Ursula Geismann, Secretary of Initiative Furnier + Natur e. V. (IFN).

For a long time, veneer was used almost exclusively for large-scale finishing of furniture or in interior design. But for some years, this natural material has also been increasingly used to add the finishing touches to sports equipment. The continuing social trend towards individualization certainly plays an important role here. Since no two veneer patterns are the same, every item of veneered sports equipment features a unique look.

But wood veneer doesn't just look good. Using it also makes an important contribution to halting climate change. For trees absorb CO2, a greenhouse gas, during their growth and store it long-term. The younger generation, in particular, not only demonstrates a desire for pronounced individuality, they also demand a healthy environment and a sustainable way of life. This has been confirmed not least by the “Fridays for Future” demonstrations that have now been going on for weeks. “For climate protection reasons, too, there is much to suggest that veneer, as a natural material, will enjoy even greater demand in the future,” says Geismann convinced. IFN/RK

Initiative Furnier + Natur (IFN)
Initiative Furnier + Natur (IFN) e.V. was founded in 1996 by the German veneer industry and its partners. The purpose of the association based in Bad Honnef is to promote veneer as a material. It is funded and supported by European companies in the veneer indus-try, trade and the veneer processing industry as well as professional associations of the timber industry.